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Dec. 19, 1967 G. c. RUSSELL PANEL JOINT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18,1966 INVENTOR. GORDON C. RUSSELL Dec. 19, 1967 G. c. RUSSELL 3,359,022

PANEL JOINT Filed Feb. 18, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2O 24 28 36 4,0 50 4445A45 2O I4 INI/ENTOR. GORDON C. RUSSELL Agent Dec. 19, 1967 G. c.RUSSELL PANEL JOINT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 18, 1966 INVENTOR.

GORDON C. RUSSELL Agen United States Patent C) 3,359,022 PANEL JOINTGordon C. Russell, Studio City, Calif., assigner to Lockheed AircraftCorporation, Burbank, Calif. Filed Feb. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 528,423 14Claims. (Cl. 287-189.36)

This invention relates to the apparatus for connecting preformedbuilding panels and more particularly to the apparatus for coupling aninner non-load-bearing panel to an outer load-bearing panel.

In the past there has been a need for prefabricated or preformedbuildings which can be constructed or erected by semiskilled orunskilled labor. Typically, a preformed building is yformed with aconcrete oor and a series of wall panels formed from a cementitiousmaterial such as concrete or a similar material. Some difficulty hasbeen experienced in the prior art types of construction in that theunskilled workers have difficulty in aligning adjacent panels and tyingthe structure into rigid unit Without the need of a sophisticated typeof fastener or aligning device.

The problems relating to such preformed buildings are twofold. Aninitial problem is hinged upon the complexity of the construction andthe level of skill required for the labor needed to construct thesebuildings.

A second problem is directed to the cost of the materials used in thebuildings in addition to the cost of labor in construction. Naturally,the lowest cost building includes the simplest design with the lowestamount of labor needed to construct the panels and fabricate thesepanels into a functional building without undue delay and withacceptable qualities.

During the construction of a preformed building, it is customary toerect all load-bearing outer walls during a first phase of theconstruction. Thereafter, the interior non-load-bearing walls areinstalled and a roof is tied to all walls to complete the structure.

In the past, a number of different types of fasteners or aligningdevices have been used to couple or link the interior walls to theexterior walls. This type of fastener aligning devices have beensomewhat disadvantageous in that the position of the wall mustnecessarily be predetermined before the building is erected. The mannerof placing the prior art fastener or aligning devices on the walls hasbeen cumbersome and requires great accuracy in forming the panels andalso in constructing the building itself.

In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantage of the priorart building construction has been eliminated by a particulararrangement of mounting interior walls to exterior load-bearing walls byapparatus which may be installed and erected in a manner which is sosimple that unskilled labor are able to construct the building withoutextensive training. This particular construction is of such a naturethat a single type of locking band used to encase a cementitious panelmay be used to both serve for exterior wall panels to link adjacentpanels together and also in addition may be used to link the interiorwall panels to the exterior wall panels. More specifically, a retainerstrip is used to link the locking band to the wall panel by a mechanicalfastening apparatus with a construction of such simplicity that complexalignment devices and fastening means are eliminated.

In its broadest aspects, one embodiment of the present invention isdirected to an architectural joint used to engage an outer load-bearingfirst panel to an inner nonload-bearing second panel with the secondpanel being disposed at right angles to the first panel. Each panel hasends and a sidewall with an elongated locking band secured to thenon-load-bearing second panel. This lock- ICC ing band has a baseabutting the panel end and a pair of parallel flanges extending at rightangles from the base and coplanar with panel walls. A means for aligningthe second panel relative to the first panel is secured to the secondpanel. A means for preventing lateral movement 4of the second panelabuts the panel and thereby secures the first panel to the second panel.

Another aspect of the present invention extends to the locking bandbeing formed with a constant cross-section strip and the cross-section-comprises a flat base and first and second parallel flanges extendingin the same direction from the base at right angles thereto. The flangeseach have a depression formed therein with a depression in the firstflange extending toward the second flange and the depression in thesecond flange extending toward the first flange. A ledge extends fromeach of the flanges.

More advantages and features will be come apparent upon review of theattached description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the building shown partly broken awayand being formed from a series of panels;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective drawing from an architectural jointof a first non-load-bearing panel being secured to a second load-bearingpanel;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of an architectural joint with asection taken along line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIGURE l andillustrating another embodiment of the present invention in anarchitectural joint; and

FIGURE 5 is a typical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of thepresent invention and is similar to the embodiment illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the present invention is best applied to anarchitectural structure such as a building 10 that is composed of afloor 12 and a series of identical wall panels 14 each being supportedupon the floor. In the present embodiment the panels 14 are formed froma cementitious material such as concrete and the panels 14 areconsidered to be outer load-bearing panels which would be formed on anouter periphery of the building 10. A series of vertical rods 16 extendinto the floor 12 and are used to support the panels 14. The details ofthis support structure are not a part of this invention and thesedetails are identified in detail in a copending application bearing Ser.No. 447,366, filed Apr. 12, 1965, and assigned tol the same assignee asthis application. As is customary in most conventional buildings, someseparations or room units in the form of cubicles (not shown) areconsidered to be necessary or advantageous for most applications.Therefore, an inner non-load-bearing panel 18 is mounted on the floor 12and abuts the outer load-bearing panel 14.

The material used to form the panels 14 and 18 may be of many differentvarieties depending upon the cheapest building materials available in aparticular area for known weather conditions. Some suitable materialsare concrete, adobe, foamed plastics, and generally any type of materialwhich can be formed in a slurry-like consistency and poured into a formto form a flat wall. For purposes of the present embodiment, the use ofconcrete is considered to be the best material for a particularapplication and will be used in the description of the followingexplanatory material of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the identical outer loadbearing panels 14 areeach formed with side walls 20 and 21 and ends 22. A locking band 24 ismounted on the periphery of each panel 14 and is installed while thepanel is being fabricated. The locking band 24 is preferably formed fromaluminum, which is not corroded by moisture-bearing material-such asconcrete. Each locking band 24 is formed from a constant cross-sectionstrip, the strip including a base 26 extending across the end 22 of thepanel 14 with a pair of parallel flanges 28 and 30 extending from thebase 26 substantially parallel and at right angles to the base andrespectively coplanar with the side walls and 21 of the panel. Anelongated depression 32 and 34 is formed in each respective flange 28and 30. An upstanding ledge 36 and 38 extends outwardly from eachrespective depression 32 and 34 and is spaced from the base 26. Arectangular perforation 40 and 42 extends through each respective ange28 and 30 with these perforations disposed adjacent to the respectiveledges 36 and 38 and the base 26. It is to be noted as shown in FIGURE2, that the perforations 40 and 42 in abutting locking strips 24 aredisposed opposite each other so that a locking clip 44 can extendthrough these perforations and prevent movement of the panels 14 when inthe assembled condition. A series of ridges 46 are formed 0n the base 26in juxtaposition to the perforation 40 and are used to mate with similarserrations 48 formed on the locking clip 44. Similar serrations areformed on the base adjacent to each perforation and on the clips 44ywhich are disposed at pre-determined intervals.

In this embodiment the locking clips 44 are formed from aluminumextrusions with each having a foundation 50 and a pair of arms 51 and 52extending at right angles therefrom so as to form a U-shaped fastenerhaving a constant cross-section. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the clip 44has its foundation 50 abutting the ledge 36 on each locking band 44 andthereby helps prevent lateral movement of the locking bands when in anassembled condition and also prevents bending, twisting, or bowing ofthe walls under extreme weather conditions.

The locking band base 26 has a hemispherical depression 54 which is usedto admit the support rod 16 which passes between each locking band andis mounted between each panel 14 as best shown in FIGURE 1. An invertedT-section 56 extends from the depression 54 into the interior of thepanel 14 and this T-section 56 extends along the entire length of thelocking band and thereby ties the locking band into the panel. Theconcrete 17 in the panel 14 interlocks around the T-section and preventsmovement of the locking band once the concrete has finally set.

A sealing gasket 45 having a constant cross-section and formed from aplastic such as polyvinyl chloride has a pair of I-shaped legs 47 and 49extending from a flat base 45A. A series of grooves 53 formed in thelocking band coact with the J-shaped leg 49 and prevent removal of thegasket once it is assembled. This gasket serves to improve theappearance of the outer walls and also to prevent wind and rain frompassing between the outer panels 14.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the non-load-bearing inner panel 18 has outerside walls 60 and 62 and ends 64 and 66. Locking bands 24 are mounted onthe respective ends 64 and 66 of the panel 18 in a manner which issubstantially identical to the mounting of the similar locking band onthe outer wall panels 14. These locking bands 24 on the inner panels 18serve the identical purpose as that served on the outer panels even tothe extent of a support rod 68 which extends between the inner panels18.

For purposes of joining the inner panel 18 to the outer panel 14, anelongated retainer strip 70 is secured to the outer panels 14 by a metaldrive pin 72 which penetrates the retainer strip 70 and extends betweenthe bases 26 on the abutting locking bands 24. This retainer strip 70has a constant cross-section and includes a flat central section 74 anda pair of lianges 76 and 78 extending from opposite sides of the centralsection 74. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the fiat central section 74 has awidth which is substantially equal to the width Of the base 26 on thelocking band which it abuts. Each of the anges 76 and 78 are formed intwo respective sections 76A and 76B along with 78A and 78B. When mountedon inner panel 18 or outer panels 14, the locking panel 24 abuts thecentral section 74 and the anges 7S are bent around the locking banduntil the section 76B and 78B abut the ledges 36 and 38 and the secondsections 76A and 78A are bent around the ledge to interlock the retainerstrip to the locking band. The retainer strip is preferably joined as analuminum extrusion. In order to complete the assembly, a constantcross-section plastic gasket 80, formed from a fiexible material such aspolyvinyl chloride, is inserted between the joint of the inner panel 18and the outer panels 14 to improve the appearance and to prevent windand rain from seeping through this joint. This gasket 80 has a atbackbone 82 and a pair of legs 84 and 86 which extend within the lockingband. The leg 84 has a series of serrations 86 formed thereon which matewith the serrations 53 formed in the locking band depression 32. Theseserrations prevent withdrawal of the gasket 80 once it is placed intoposition. The second eg 86 abuts the retainer strip 70. The interior ofthe gasket 80 is hollow and includes an elongated opening 88 whichpermits the gasket to conform to the shape of the retainer strip flange76 when disposed in position.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, another embodiment of the present inventionis shown where the inner panel 18 is mounted upon an outer panel 14which is a position intermediate its ends. This type of construction issomewhat different than that illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 wherein theinner panel 18 is mounted at the joint of two outer panels 14. In thisembodiment, referring to FIGURE 4 again, the retainer strip 70 issecured to the inner panel by a metal drive pin 70 extending through theretainer strip and entering the panel 14. As is customary in thebuilding trade, the retainer strip 70 would be disposed vertically onthe panel 14 before the pin 72 is driven through the strip and enteringinto the panel. The assembly of the inner panel 18 upon the retainerstrip 70 would be repeated in a manner similar to the previousembodiment shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 whereby the flanges 76 and 78 wouldbe folded upon and around the ledges on the locking band. Gaskets 88would be disposed in position as shown in FIGURE 4 in a mannerconsistent with the previous embodiment.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, another embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated which is quite similar to the embodiment illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 4. A retainer strip in the form of a channel 90 having aconstant cross section is mounted upon the panel 14 by a driven pin 72extending through the channel and secured to the panel 14. The channelincludes a base 91 and a pair of parallel anges 92 and 93 extending fromopposite sides of the base and extending in the same direction. Thechannel has a size which is large enough to accept the insertion of theinterior panel 18 and a locking band 24 coupled thereto. As in theprevious embodiments, the inner panel is secured in position by asupport rod 68 engaging the locking band 24 disposed at the opposite endof the panel. In this embodiment, the combination of the channel 90 andthe support rod 68 prevent lateral movement of the panel. Thisembodiment has some advantages over the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 inthat the channel need not be crimped over the locking band but alignsthe panel 18 relative to the outer panel 14 and does not require furtherapplication of gaskets 80 as was required in the previous embodiments.The remainder of the construction illustrated in FIGURE 5 issubstantially identical to the construction of FIGURES 3 and 4 and areiteration of the same components is considered unnecessary. While notillustrated, the channel 90 can be used in a similar manner as theembodiment illustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein the drive pin 92 can bedriven between the abutting locking bands 24 rather than into the outerpanel 14 as shown in FIGURE 5; essen-` tially, the position of the innerWall with respect to the outer is not limited in any manner.

While a particular configuration of the locking band has beenillustrated, it is to be recognized that this Shape can be alteredwithout departing from the present invention. The particular manner ofsecuring the retainer strip to the outer Wall panel can be changedWithout departing from the spirit of the present invention along withthe manner of securing the retainer strip to the locking band. Thesealternative instructions are considered to be Within the skill of theart and are not predicated upon a particular shape or configuration asillustrated in the drawings.

I claim:

1. An architectural joint used to engage an outside load-bearing firstpanel to an interior nonload bearing second panel with the second panelat right angles to the first panel and each panel having ends and sidewalls, comprising:

an elongated locking band being secured to the nonload bearing secondpanel,

the locking band having a base abutting the panel end and a pair ofparallel flanges extending at right angles from the locking band baseand coplanar with the panel walls, the locking band flanges each havingan elongated depression therein, means for aligning the second panelrelative to the first panel with the aligning means of the second panelhaving a first end extending within the aligning means; and

means for preventing lateral movement of the second panel and abutting asecond end of the second panel.

2. An architectural joint as defined in claim 1 in which the aligningmeans is a retainer strip having a base abutting the locking band and apair of flanges extending on opposite sides of the locking band.

3. An architectural joint as defined in claim 1 and in addition a meansfor securing the locking band to the panel including an inverted Tsection extending from the locking band base and extending within thepanel, the panel being formed from a solidified slurry which extendsaround and interlocks with the T section.

4. An architectural joint as defined in claim 1 in which the aligningmeans is secured to the panel by a drive pin penetrating through thealigning means and entering into the panel.

5. An architectural joint as defined in claim 1 in which the first panelincludes a pair of panels each having a locking band secured theretowith the locking band bases abutting each other,

the aligning means being secured to the first panel by a drive pinpenetrating through the aligning means and extending between theabutting bases of the locking strips on the pair of panels.

6. An architectural joint as defined in claim 1 and in addition aflexible gasket being mounted at the junction of the first panel and thesecond panel with the gasket extending within the locking banddepression of the second panel and rictionally engaging the first panel.

7. An architectural joint being formed between first and second panels,each having sidewalls and ends, a pair of locking bands being mountedone each on the panels and the locking bands abutting each other,comprising:

the locking bands being formed with constant crosssections,

the locking band cross-section including a base and a pair ofspaced-apart flanges extending in the same direction, the locking bandsfacing each other with the bases abutting each other,

each of the locking bands includes an outwardly extending ledgeprotruding at an angle from each flange,

the locking band flange including perforations therethrough and disposedadjacent to the ledge and the perforations being disposed between theledge and the locking band base,

the perforation in each locking band being adjacent to each other,

a U-shaped clip having a foundation and a pair of legs,

the clip having a leg extending through the perforation in adjacentlocking bands.

8. An architectural joint as defined in claim 7 and in addition:

the locking band having a series of serrations thereon,

the clip legs having a series of serrations thereon which coact andinterlock with the locking band serrations whereby the interlockedserrations inhibit removal of the clips from the locking bands.

9. An architectural joint as defined in claim 7 and in addition:

the locking band flanges being coplanar with the panel sidewalls andlocking band depressions being disposed below the surface of the panelsidewalls.

10. An architectural joint as defined in claim 7 and in addition:

the panels being formed from a cementitious material,

the locking vband base including an inverted T section extending Withinand being gripped by the cementitious material forming the panel.

11. An architectural joint as defined in claim 7 and in addition:

the clip foundation contacting the ledges on abutting locking bands andthereby tending to prevent removal of the clips from the locking bands.

12. A locking band being formed With a constant cross section strip, thecross section comprising:

a fiat base,

a first and second parallel flange extending in the same direction fromthe base and at right angles thereto,

the flanges each having a depression formed therein with the depressionsin the first flange extending toward the second flange and thedepression in the second flange extending toward the first flange, and

a ledge extending outwardly from each flange.

13. A locking band as defined in claim 12 in which the ledges extendfrom each flange depression and the ledge having a surface which isparallel to the base.

14. A locking band as defined in claim 11 in which the base has acentrally located semi-circular depression eX- tending along the lengthof the locking band and parallel to the flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,688,134 10/1928 Braunstein52-285 X 2,612,243 9/1952 Campbell 52-288 X 3,013,642 12/1961 Hammitt etal. 52-238 3,049,195 8/1962 Leat et al. 52-238 X 3,228,158 1/1966Russell 52-580 3,239,986 3/1966 Russell 52-584 3,282,006 11/1966 Halseyet al. 52-582 X 3,309,826 3/1967 Zinn 52-241 FOREIGN PATENTS 994,036 6/1965 Great Britain.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ARCHITECTURAL JOINT USED TO ENGAGE AN OUTSIDE LOAD-BEARING FIRSTPANEL TO AN INTERIOR NONLOAD BEARING SECOND PANEL WITH THE SECOND PANELAT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FIRST PANEL AND EACH PANEL HAVING ENDS AND SIDEWALLS, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED LOCKING BAND BEING SECURED TO THENONLOAD BEARING SECOND PANEL, THE LOCKING BAND HAVING A BASE ABUTTINGTHE PANEL END AND A PAIR OF PARALLEL FLANGES EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLESFROM THE LOCKING BAND BASE AND COPLANAR WITH THE PANEL WALLS, THELOCKING BAND FLANGES EACH HAVING AN ELONGATED DEPRESSION THEREIN,